Translators As Storytellers: A Study In Septuagint Translation Technique

Translators As Storytellers: A Study In Septuagint Translation Technique. By John A. Beck. New York: Peter Lang, 2000, 223 pp., $59.50.

John A. Beck "Alters" the study of LXX translation technique. In his quest to "provide the clearest picture of the translator's literary sensitivity" (p. 10), Beck believes that "it is imperative that we measure translation technique not merely at the linguistic level but also at the literary level" (p. 197). Thus, while he proposes a helpful linguistic method, it is his narrative-critical method (inspired by such literary luminaries as Robert Alter) that he foregrounds. Here "characterization, the use of time, the patterning play of words and artful use of geography" find their rightful place of prominence in translation analysis (p. 2). By "comparing the literary dimension of parent and receptor text, we will survey the literary sensitivity to Hebrew narrative strategies within the translation technique of the Septuagint" (ibid.). Literalness represented the goal of the LXX translators, and Beck seeks to quantify the "percentage of literalness" (p. 22 and passim).

Chapter 1 offers a thorough history of LXX translation scholarship that continues into the next chapter. Beck critiques the main theories, introduces his method, and enumerates his "sampling of narrative texts from the three stages of the Septuagint's translation history." He chooses four texts from each division of the Tanakh on account of their "length, literary unity and the suggested diversity of translating style" (p. 8).

The first of chap. 2's three sections, "Introduction to Translation Technique Research," accomplishes its goal through clearly articulated presentations of the numerous lexical (seven features treated), grammatical (clause connection, verbs, and word order), and semantic aspects (especially quantitative representation of content) of translation. Next, "A Method of Linguistic Analysis" reveals Beck's passion for methodologies (here linguistic) that can measure the "percentage of literalness" (p. 22). "Measuring the Texts with Linguistics" then presents a sampling of the data collected from Beck's linguistic analysis. Table 25 summarizes data from the grammatical and lexical analyses of the 12 texts, where, surprisingly, no clear distinction in the translating style between Tanakh divisions emerges. Ranking according to morpheme analysis, however, Torah rates the most literal; the Writings are most literal based on translation of waw-- consecutive imperfects, and the Prophets rank first based upon renderings of clause coordination (pp. 51-52).

Chapter 3, "The Storyteller and Narrative Criticism," seems unnecessarily long (72 pages). Shortening the methodological introduction (16 pages) would help, but the narrative-critical analyses of the 12 texts-while necessary for illustrating Beck's pan-- Tanakh method-may irritate readers attempting to keep the linguistic methodology in view. A few advance peeks at the conclusion may prove helpful: "it is clear that six of the texts experienced only slight literary adjustment.... Four texts experienced moderate adjustment.... And three texts experienced significant literary adjustment in translation" (p. 137).

Chapter 4's brisk pace and stunning insights in some ways represent the highlight of the work. The storyteller and narrative geography reflects Beck's expertise in Eretz-- Israel geography (he regularly travels to Israel as a field-education instructor). Beck displays an impressive ability to conceptualize what he terms the biblical writers's "artful use of geography" and then translate those intricate elements into his own engaging, illustrious account. Beck is, then, like his LXX translators, a good "storyteller." It is here that Beck convinces me to merge the literary with the linguistic, and he defends the dictum that "the geography of a location can influence the writers in that region so powerfully that their literature will be shaped by it. Geography affects writers" (p. 167).

In the concluding chapter, the data from the combined analyses recorded in Table 27 reveal that "no consistent correlation exists between the narrative-critical and linguistic columns.... [Furthermore,] we conclude that the illumination of the translator as storyteller is best accomplished by employing narrative criticism as the lead method" (pp.199-200).

This book unquestionably extends the discussion of translation technique, or better, the artful, literary translation of the Septuagint. Given the disparaging remarks leveled at methodologies overly dependent on linguistic dimensions, narrative-inclined scholars will likely warm up to Beck's approach more readily than will language specialists, who will also be likely to object to aspects of Beck's percentage-based analyses.

The introductions to translation technique offered in the first two chapters are excellent, though the endnote format proves aggravating and the lack of citation of major French Septuagint experts is regrettable. In sum, Beck is to be commended for attempting such an ambitious project, one that accomplishes many of its goals, and one that will likely be referenced by a broad range of biblical scholars for years to come.